I'd also rather see the market tore down but I'd like to see the land sold to a developer through an RFP, preferably with some stipulation that a high-rise go there.
The fact that the building is new doesn't really save it from demolition, especially given how cheaply built it is. There's not many things a building like that will be good for. If parking could be figured out it would make a great location for a high rise, 20+ floor hotel, something like the JW Mariott in GR.
Another interesting article in The City Pulse talking about a study that is being funded for a new performing arts center somewhere downtown. It noted there is one developer all ready to jump in on this. It also noted a couple of PAC's that have been built in other cities. I am hoping that this will be a high-class building like the ones pointed out in the article. Also that PAC's can become the core of nearby neighborhood development and civic pride, rather like our old Civic Center.
Yes, Pleasent Grove was a Lansing public elementary school k-6. A lot of kids I went to Dwight Rich JHS with came from Pleasent Grove. Students who lived in Church Hill Downs and that area went there. It was kind of the edge of town back than past Holmes down to Jolly the country began.
Returning to Lansing after 30 some years I found the changes to this area surprising and depressing. I believe that closing the neighborhood school was one of the things that took away the neighborhood's identity and pride. It is really great that the city and developers are going to rebuild this four corner area. It could be a nice village/neighborhood center and I can think of a couple more outlying neighborhoods that would benefit from the same sort of redevelopment if this one is successful.
Great news, that building is really an eyesore right now. I think it is great fun and interesting to watch these buildings, one by one, businesses and developers are finding new uses for buildings that seemed beyond usefulness. The southside is were a huge percent of Lansing's population lives so it would seem to be a good place to reimagine and redevelop. Rebuilding the main streets that lead to South Lansing make them bike and pedestrain friendly beautifie the corridors with new lighting trees and landscaping, signage codes, help small business to remodel their storefronts and parking areas, South Lansing circle bus routes that allow riders to get around the area without going downtown. And one place that seems really a mess to me is the Cedar/Pennsylvaina Edgewood area. Reconfigure the streets there into a less confusing less landwasting less ugly grid plan of streets and highway acesses. Of course I know that I am just dreaming about that one.
I heard the end of a radio news program Sunday am in which a fellow from I assume to be from Urban Systems [I think that's the company name] talking about the developments they are planning for the Lake Side block and beyond. I only caught the end of it but he was talking about 300 units of housing being built in two stages rehabilitating the office building and including retail along S. Washinton Ave. There was a bit about "connectivity" connecting Downtown to REOtown and Cherry Hill. He spoke of the plan to turn many one way streets to two way. He said that this is a very good idea for creating a place where people have a good experience, two-way streets tame traffic and encourage people to stop and take a look if getting traffic out of the city center is the object [which it was]then one-way streets are best. The program was on WLNX 1180 AM[the best old lady station!:} I have not found a site to see if the program can be rebroadcast. The Urban Systems guy said there will be announcements soon.
Good news that GM is planning on building the model Cadillac here at the Grand River Plant. I was surprised to hear that it would be a passenger car, not an SUV or crossover. I guess that GM to still wants to build cars, so there still must be a market for this luxury level passenger car.
I am not sure if the project has a page, I can't remember the name[The Metro?:} so I'll say at the old "Y" site there is rebar in place and cement being poured for foundations. Soon the buildings will be growing out of all that dirt they have been moving around for so long.
We have reason to be a little concerned when progress seems to stall here in Lansing, they talk about some projects so long it's almost miraculous to see them get underway.
It was a coincidence that I took a good look at some of the buildings going up around town when I read in the City Pulse that they had done the same. They critique some of the recent architectural trends reflected here, from good The Stadium Apartments to the not so good, The Sky View. They explain "spreadsheet design" which is far more concerned with square feet inside, then what goes up on the outside. So we get these metal panels that are in use all over the world. I was thinking the same thing as they point out The Hub and The City Center up on Grand River. The Hub fits into its space nicely as does The City Center on Grand River but at this point, the building looms over the back street on Albert, the building looks gigantic on that street. I think this feeling will change some when there is a wall of windows and shops all lit up. It is a good read and echos many ideas we have talked about on this page.
Comments
I'd also rather see the market tore down but I'd like to see the land sold to a developer through an RFP, preferably with some stipulation that a high-rise go there.
The fact that the building is new doesn't really save it from demolition, especially given how cheaply built it is. There's not many things a building like that will be good for. If parking could be figured out it would make a great location for a high rise, 20+ floor hotel, something like the JW Mariott in GR.
Another interesting article in The City Pulse talking about a study that is being funded for a new performing arts center somewhere downtown. It noted there is one developer all ready to jump in on this. It also noted a couple of PAC's that have been built in other cities. I am hoping that this will be a high-class building like the ones pointed out in the article. Also that PAC's can become the core of nearby neighborhood development and civic pride, rather like our old Civic Center.
Yes, Pleasent Grove was a Lansing public elementary school k-6. A lot of kids I went to Dwight Rich JHS with came from Pleasent Grove. Students who lived in Church Hill Downs and that area went there. It was kind of the edge of town back than past Holmes down to Jolly the country began.
Returning to Lansing after 30 some years I found the changes to this area surprising and depressing. I believe that closing the neighborhood school was one of the things that took away the neighborhood's identity and pride. It is really great that the city and developers are going to rebuild this four corner area. It could be a nice village/neighborhood center and I can think of a couple more outlying neighborhoods that would benefit from the same sort of redevelopment if this one is successful.
Great news, that building is really an eyesore right now. I think it is great fun and interesting to watch these buildings, one by one, businesses and developers are finding new uses for buildings that seemed beyond usefulness. The southside is were a huge percent of Lansing's population lives so it would seem to be a good place to reimagine and redevelop. Rebuilding the main streets that lead to South Lansing make them bike and pedestrain friendly beautifie the corridors with new lighting trees and landscaping, signage codes, help small business to remodel their storefronts and parking areas, South Lansing circle bus routes that allow riders to get around the area without going downtown. And one place that seems really a mess to me is the Cedar/Pennsylvaina Edgewood area. Reconfigure the streets there into a less confusing less landwasting less ugly grid plan of streets and highway acesses. Of course I know that I am just dreaming about that one.
I heard the end of a radio news program Sunday am in which a fellow from I assume to be from Urban Systems [I think that's the company name] talking about the developments they are planning for the Lake Side block and beyond. I only caught the end of it but he was talking about 300 units of housing being built in two stages rehabilitating the office building and including retail along S. Washinton Ave. There was a bit about "connectivity" connecting Downtown to REOtown and Cherry Hill. He spoke of the plan to turn many one way streets to two way. He said that this is a very good idea for creating a place where people have a good experience, two-way streets tame traffic and encourage people to stop and take a look if getting traffic out of the city center is the object [which it was]then one-way streets are best. The program was on WLNX 1180 AM[the best old lady station!:} I have not found a site to see if the program can be rebroadcast. The Urban Systems guy said there will be announcements soon.
Good news that GM is planning on building the model Cadillac here at the Grand River Plant. I was surprised to hear that it would be a passenger car, not an SUV or crossover. I guess that GM to still wants to build cars, so there still must be a market for this luxury level passenger car.
I am not sure if the project has a page, I can't remember the name[The Metro?:} so I'll say at the old "Y" site there is rebar in place and cement being poured for foundations. Soon the buildings will be growing out of all that dirt they have been moving around for so long.
We have reason to be a little concerned when progress seems to stall here in Lansing, they talk about some projects so long it's almost miraculous to see them get underway.
It was a coincidence that I took a good look at some of the buildings going up around town when I read in the City Pulse that they had done the same. They critique some of the recent architectural trends reflected here, from good The Stadium Apartments to the not so good, The Sky View. They explain "spreadsheet design" which is far more concerned with square feet inside, then what goes up on the outside. So we get these metal panels that are in use all over the world. I was thinking the same thing as they point out The Hub and The City Center up on Grand River. The Hub fits into its space nicely as does The City Center on Grand River but at this point, the building looms over the back street on Albert, the building looks gigantic on that street. I think this feeling will change some when there is a wall of windows and shops all lit up. It is a good read and echos many ideas we have talked about on this page.